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Robert Donnell Bone (1832-1892) was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, and came to Nacogdoches County in 1841 with his mother and stepfather. He and his brothers and sister moved in with his older sister when she married John Winstead Paine in 1846. After a serious illness of pneumonia, R. D. Bone rode horseback to Tennessee and entered the University at Nashville Medical School (which later became Vanderbilt University) in 1854 and returned to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine after graduating in 1858. That same year he married Griselda Minerva Burk (1841-1912) who was also from Tennessee and had moved to Nacogdoches County, Texas, with her family in 1848. On November 25, 1861, Dr. Bone was appointed to serve as Assistant Surgeon of the 12th Texas Volunteer Infantry, Col. Overton Young's Regiment at Camp Hebert, Hempstead, Austin County, Texas. He felt it was his duty to serve the cause of the Confederacy and eagerly attended his post. As revealed in the following letters exchanged with his wife while on active duty in the Civil War, it soon became clear that he would have to contend with inadequate provisions, boring camp routine and confusing orders. "The Fever", dysentery, measles and exposure were Dr. Bone's patients' main medical problems; his regiment was not involved in any serious fighting. When he resigned his commission on March 7, 1863, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, he went back to Douglass, Texas, to practice medicine. Dr. Bone also bought cotton and cattle and took them to New Orleans each fall to be sold. Minerva was Post Mistress in Douglass from 1866-1867. Only six of the Bone's 12 children reached adulthood, and two of their sons graduated from the University at Nashville Medical School exactly 50 years after Dr. Bone did. At least eight of his descendants have followed him in serving the medical profession. (Aiken, Roy L. (Pete). "Bone Family." In Nacogdoches County Families, 172. Dallas, Tx.: Curtis Media Corporation, 1985.)

Scope and Content Note

Included in the collection of letters between Dr. Bone and Minerva are letters to the Bones from family and friends, report forms from the post office at Douglass, and two poems (probably written by Dr. Bone). Typescripts for most of the papers in the collection are in a booklet in Box 2. Several 19th century newspapers belonging to Dr. Bone are cataloged and shelved with the newspaper bundles.

Camp Herbert
Feb 21st 1862
Dear Minerva
I came to camp safely but was very much fatigued with the staging. I find a good deal of sickness in camp Bud Woulard Henry Hutcheson and Jno. Murph are sick in our Company. Lt Murph has been sick ever since I left here- he has not been bad sick but has been lingering along till he is weakened down. He is very anxious to get away from here and I think it best for him to do so. He is very much pleased with the idea of going home, tell George to attend to it and see that some one comes after him immediately. There has been several deaths her in my absence. Mansfield Mosley is one that died. Mr Gilbert in Capt Clark's Co is dying at present I think. We have not been ordered to Kentucky nor do we know that we will be ordered there, it is a settled opinion here that we will go some where soon. The news of our defeat at Roanoke Island is sad but our success at Fort Donelson since is creating some glee in camp. The boys all seemed glad to see me return to camp and I can say I was glad to see them My grey jeans is taking the praise here it is pronounced a beautiful article and very appropriate for an uniform, you cannot imagine how well pleased I was to hear your jeans praised by everybody. I told you made it and could do still better. A goodly number of men here speak of sending out to old Nacogdoches for jeans, most of them prefer the grey to the brown jeans, some of you would do well to have some on hands when they send, they will send the money for it. I want to go to Houston shortly to see and be seen I had a valuable and beautiful sword presented to me on my return here by Lt. Col Maugram of Houston so you see I am in luck in the way procuring my outfit. Tomorrow is the day set apart for General review of the soldiers and the Medical Staff have to appear armed and equipped (sic) as the law directs. Capt Lewelling speaks of going home shortly and if he does I will send you $10.00 by him. Tell Mr Boyd that Bun got to camp about 2 hours after I did and is well. Bill and Harrison Wade Bud Russell Jim Paine and Ben Whitaker are all well and hearty
I am called off
Feb 26th Still well and hearty and have been so busy that I have not had time sleep Our sick list runs up to 70 this morning, we are getting along pretty well to day with them We have lost 11 men here since we came here I am so much engaged that to sit down and write anything like a letter is a task, so you must excuse me for delay in writing. You know my feelings towards you and our little Boys, so do I know yours, let us treasure up those feelings and bear (sic) with our separation till we see each other again. Try and have our house finished if you can, and do for the best and dont (sic) forget to write, you have a better chance to write than I have
Write soon and may the good Lord Bless you and our little sons
R. D. Bone
Feb. 21. 1862

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